This week: Downy Scullcap, Overlooked No More
Hello!
I’m embarrassed to admit I overlooked a certain native plant for years: Downy Skullcap (Scutellaria incana). I’d never seen it outside of a seed catalog until I stumbled upon it in the sunken herb garden in Mellon Park in Pittsburgh last summer. Long story short, I’m buying the seeds, hoping they’ll be happy in my front garden.
What makes it a good choice for home gardens? First, it is compact. It only grows two to three feet tall—the perfect height for fitting in with a neighborhood. It also tolerates a range of light conditions. While it prefers partial sun, it does well in full sun and dappled shade, meaning there is probably a spot for it to live in most people’s landscapes. Finally, it blooms profusely in late summer, often when other flowers are starting to wane. Did I mention its attractive purple flowers?
One of its few downsides is also an upside: it is part of the mint family and shares the same rhizomatous roots that will form colonies. I like this quality for weed suppression and erosion prevention (I’m always looking for a low-maintenance hillside plant), but you might want to keep your eye on it and divide or thin it as needed. Another upside of the mint family is that rabbits and deer see it as a snack of last resort.
Elsewhere:
It’s tree pruning season! The healthiest time to trim a tree is late winter, and you can do it yourself on small or young trees. Here’s a guide to pruning cuts from Leaf & Limb, perfect for DIYers.
Have a good week,
Julie